Australia's pacemen are to be called upon in South Africa

Australia will take as many as six fast bowlers to South Africa next month as it prepares to cope with the dual demands of heavy workloads against the world No.1 team and the short turnarounds between Tests.

Selectors are set to name a squad of up to 15 players for the three-Test series against the Proteas, which begins on February 12 at Centurion and contains three matches in only 22 days.

Wary of the labour requirements of its pacemen, the touring party will not include a reserve wicketkeeper but will instead be loaded with quicks.

Ashes trio Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle are to be joined by at least two and possibly three other fast bowlers, with James Faulkner and James Pattinson all but certain to be included and Nathan Coulter-Nile the lead candidate for the additional spot if Australia opts for 15 tourists rather than 14.

Plans are also being finalised for members of the squad not involved in Australia's one-day campaign against England to turn out in the Futures League for state second XI teams later this month.

Opener Chris Rogers has already said he will switch states briefly to play for South Australia's second XI against NSW in Sydney because Victoria, like Tasmania, does not have a match in the round of Futures games, from January 27-30, that precede the Test team's departure for Johannesburg.

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Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon will likely make outings for NSW's seconds in that game while Harris could turn out for Queensland against Western Australia at Allan Border Field. Depending on the progress of the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Siddle and Alex Doolan - who is in line to make his Test debut in South Africa - could also be drafted into the Bulls or Warriors' seconds for crucial red-ball practice.

The absence of Sheffield Shield matches on the calendar in January means those players not in the one-day squad will also spend time at Brisbane's National Cricket Centre concentrating on facing the red ball before they leave for South Africa, and possibly turn out for their grade teams as well.

While readying all players for the showpiece series against the Proteas is a priority, the major concern for Australia is making sure they are properly equipped with fast bowling resources.

Johnson, Harris and Siddle are coming off a triumphant Ashes series in which they got through all five matches but bowled far less than Australia's quicks were required to in the home series against South Africa the previous summer.

In that contest, won 1-0 by Graeme Smith's men, the six Australian pacemen used bowled a combined 405.2 overs, translating to 45.02 overs per bowler per match. Siddle sent down 63.5 overs in the second Test in Adelaide, and missed the series decider.

Conversely, Johnson, Harris and Siddle bowled 511 overs in five Tests against England - only 34.07 per match each. That is effectively two spells less per Test than Australia's quicks were called upon to send down in the loss to South Africa.

Australian officials expect a similar challenge against arguably the world's best batting line-up and with very tight turnarounds - there are three days between the first and second Tests, and four between the second and third - they are planning appropriately.